Wire-stretcher



(No Model.) l

G. E. HUNT, N. B. HELM & H. L. PERBIS. WIRE STRETGHER.

No. 395,146. Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

UNiTn ;PATENT lFFlGEo CHARLES E. HUNT, NATHAN B. HELM, AND HENRY L. FERRIS, OF HARVARD, ILLINOIS.

WlRE- -STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,146, dated December 25, 1888.

Application filed January 24, 1888. Serial No. 261,725- (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that we, CHARLES E. HUNT, NATHAN B. HELM, and HENRY L. Fnnnrs, of Harvard, in the county of Mcllenry and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements in \Vire-Stretchers; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to devices for stretching fen ce-wires, telegraph-wires, and the like for the purpose of drawing them taut preparatory to splicing their ends or securing them to a post or pole.

The invention consists in the novel matters hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side or top view of a stretcher embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, showing the grippingalogs in a different position. Figs. 3 and 4 represent opposite views of one of the gripping-dogs. Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectional view of one of the gripping-dogs. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the mode of attaching the stretcher to a post preparatory to stretching a wire which is to be secured to said post.

A is a rod of convenient length, provided with a point or sharpened end, a. Upon said rod, at a remove from the point a, is a short sleeve, A, having in this instance two hooks, a and (6 016 end of the latter hook being shown closed about the endlink of a chain, A so as to retain the chain thereon.

B is a hand-lever pivoted at I) to a sleeve, B, which slides freely upon the rod A. Pivoted to the lever B, on opposite sides of its pivot b, as at b and 19 respectively, are two rigid bars or links, D D, each of which is provided with two loops or eyes, cl and d. The loop d is set nearly at a right angle with its bar and encircles the rod A, and the loop cl is set on the end of the bar and projects beyond the loop (I.

O C are two similar dogs, each having a central opening loosely embracing the rod A,

and each provided with opposite projections or hooks c 0 The bars or links D D occupy positions 011 opposite sides of the rod A, and the loop (1 of each link embraces the hook c of one of the gripping-dogs, as shown. The openings 0 of the dogs C C are made tapering from one end to the other thereof, or from one face to the opposite face of the dog, and the side 0 of the opening toward the projection c is less beveled than the opposite side, 0, of said opening, which is nearest the projection The wider or flared ends of the openings 0 in the dogs are toward the point a of the rod A.

Around the rod A are two expanding coiled springs, E E, placed between the loops or eyes (I and the several dogs C C. These springs are of sufficient length to cause said dogs to normally assume an oblique position with respect to the direction of the rod, so that the sides 0 of the holes 0 in the dogs will bite or grip the rod A and prevent any slipping of the dogs on the rod while the dogs are in this oblique position.

To the sliding sleeve B is attached any suitable device for gripping or clamping the wire to be stretchedas, for example, the wire-clamp F, provided with a hook, f, secured at b to a projection on the sleeve B, or otherwise connectedtherewith. \Vhen splicing the ends of two strands of wire, a second clamping device will be secured to the end of the chain A in any suitable manner.

The operation of our device is as follows: In drawing the wire to a post the chain A is put loosely around the post, and the free end or a link of said chain is engaged with the hook at, the rod A being held in an upwardly-inclined position, as illustrated in Fig. 6, with the point a against the post while the chain is being thus connected. The chain having been connected as described, downward pressure is exerted by hand upon the The rod A thus permitted to employ both hands in adj usting the end of the wire to the gripper F, in.- stead of being obliged tosupport the stretcher with one hand while he adjusts the wire with the other, as required by former stretchers. This feature of self-support is regarded as very important, since the wire frequently becomes twisted and bent so as to require the use of both hands to untangle and straighten it, or else the services of two operators. Such self-support of the device manifestly results from the location of the hooks a a at a distance from the point a, giving proper leverage either when pressing the rod A to the horizontal position to force the point a deeply into the post or to sustain the rod at a slight upward inclination if its point a is only slightly embedded in the post. The-rod hav ing been secured to and supported from the post, as above described, the sleeve B is moved along the rod toward the end opposite the point a. This rearward movement of the sleeve B is accomplished by placing the fingers of the hand against the disengaged ends 0 of the dogs 0 O and pressing said ends of the dogs rearwardly toward the sleeve B. This movement will bring the dogs into a position more nearly at right angles with the rod, and will thus relieve the bite of the dogs upon said rod, allowing the dogs, the sleeve B, links or bars D D, springs E E, and lever B to be moved bodily backward. Upon releasing the pressure of the hand from the ends 0 of the dogs the springs E E cause the latter to return to the oblique and biting position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The wire strand having beensecured in the grip F, and the parts being in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the hand-lever B is vibrated 011 its pivot b to draw the wire toward the post. Carrying the handlever toward the post causes the adjacent dog, C, to forcibly bite the rod and moves forward toward the post the sleeve B, gripping device F, bar D, spring E, and dog 0, the latter sliding freely upon the rod A when being moved in the direction in which the mouth or widest part of the hole 0 therein is directed. At the end of this movement of the lever B the parts have assumed the position illustrated in Fig. 2, withthe sleeve B drawn toward the loop (1 of the bar D. Thehand-lever B is then moved in the opposite direction or away from the post, which operation produces a backward pull on the forward dog, C, by the loop (1 of the bar D and causes the part c of said dog to forcibly bite the rod. The-rearward dog, 0, and the parts connected with it are therefore moved bodily forward by the hand-lever, carrying with them the sleeve B, the gripper F, and the wire strand. Repeated movements of the hand-lever forward and backward are made until the wire is brought to the desired tension or position. It will be noticed that the lever B fulcrums at b when moving forward and at b when moving backward, thus drawing the wire forward at each movement of the lever. The dogs 0 O being always held by the springs E E in position to grip or bite the rod A, it is obvious that the stretcher may be operated whether the lever B is above or below or on either side of the rod A. The various gripping and holding mechanisms can be rotated into any position desired by making the sleeve A rotatable upon the rod A, with a shoulder at a This construction is desirable, as permitting the rotation of the lever while the apparatus is under strain. Two hooks, a and a integral with the sleeve A, are shown in the drawings; but it is obvious that one of the hooks may be dispensed with, if desired, and both ends of the chain A engaged with the same hook. We prefer to use both hooks or equivalent devices and permanently secure one end of the chain to the rod in order to keep the whole apparatus together and facilitate its attachment to a post.

\Ve claim as our invention- 1. In a wire-stretcher, the combination of a rod for the support of stretching devices, provided with a sharpened end to engage a post, and a chain or its equivalent to secure said rod to said post, said chain having attachment with the rod at a distance from the point of contact of said rod with the post, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A rod for the support of stretching devi cos, provided with a sharpened end to engage a post, and with one or more hooks at a distance from said sharpened end, in combination with said post and a chain or its equivalent adapted to engage with said hook or hooks, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a rod for the support of stretching devices, of a sleeve, A, rotatably applied to the rod at a short distance from one end thereof and provided with one or more hooks and a chain adapted to be engaged with said hook or hooks, substantially as described.

4:. The combination, with a rod, A, of a handlever, B, a wire-grip connected with the lever, bars D D, pivoted to the hand-lever on opposite sides of the point at which the wire-grip is connected therewith and provided with loops or eyes (1, embracing the rod, dogs 0 O, fitted to slide on the rod and adapted, substantially as described, to engage or disengage the same, springs E E between the loops d and the dogs, and a flexible connection between each of the dogs and the adjacent bar,

substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, wit-h a rod, A, of a sleeve, B, fitted to slide thereon, a hand-lever, B, pivoted to the sleeve, bars D D, pivoted to the hand-lever at opposite sides of the pivot of said lever and provided each With a loop or eye, (1, which embraces the rod, movable dogs 0 O on the rod, fitted to engage and release the same, as described, and provided with lateral project-ions c, springs E E, encircling the rod between the dogs and the loops (Z of the bars D D, and connections which flexibly join the projections of the dogs with the bars, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a rod, A, a handlever, B, two vibrating clamping-dogs, C O, 011 the rod, and springs E E, bearing against the dogs, of link bars D D, provided with. loops (Z and d, for engagement, respectively, with the rod and dogs, substantially as described.

7. 111 a stretcher, the combination, with a rod, A, of a vibrating clamping-dog, C, provided with a through-opening which embraces the rod, which opening is flared from one end to the other and interiorly corrugated, sub stantially as described.

8. In combination with the rod, the hand lever, the link-bars, and the springs, the dogs 0 0, having opposite projections 0 0 the former of which are connected with the linkbars, and the latter of which are for handpressure in moving the dog mechanism backward on the rod, substantially as described.

dd, for engagement, respectively, with said rod and dogs, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we aiiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. HUNT. NATHAN B. I-IELM. HENRY L. FERRIS.

Witnesses:

N. E. BLAKE, E. H. SENGER. 

